Efficacy of customized filtered sound for tinnitus relief: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose of study: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of two sound therapy approaches, 1) customized tinnitus frequency notched sound therapy and 2) customized sound therapy. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-one subjects, who had continuous tinnitus for a minimum of 6 months, participated in the study. They were randomized prospectively into 3 groups: 1) customized tinnitus frequency notched sound therapy (CNS); 2) customized sound therapy (CS); and 3) no treatment control group (NT). After 6 months of therapy, immediate outcomes were compared using the 1) Chinese Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, 2) Chinese Tinnitus Questionnaire, 3) self-rated visual analogue scale on tinnitus loudness, and 4) tinnitus loudness matches measured psychoacoustically. Results: The Chinese Tinnitus Questionnaire score was significantly lowered in the CNS and CS group as compared to the NT group. There was no significant difference in the score reduction between the CNS and CS group. No significant difference was observed among all three groups in psychoacoustic measures. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that both the customized sound therapy and customized tinnitus frequency notched sound therapy are effective for tinnitus relief.